Fiona Standfield

Educated at the Universities of Leeds, Caen and Oxford, Fiona began her career as a fast-track Civil Servant in Whitehall, subsequently teaching Modern Foreign Languages and working in the House of Commons, before joining Royal Mail plc.  Fiona enjoyed a thirteen-year career with Royal Mail plc, undertaking operational, training and management posts both at home and abroad, including Home Shopping Sales Director and culminating in Business Implementation and Delivery Director on a UK-wide IT Programme.

Since returning to the North East, Fiona has developed a portfolio career, which has included her own consultancy practice – providing language services, project management and business development support to SMEs across all three sectors – and interim change leadership roles as Director, Newcastle Science City and North East Programme Director for Safe Families for Children.  Fiona is currently working for the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle as their Chief Operating Officer.    

 A former chair of an NHS Mental Health and Learning Disability Trust, Fiona is also employed by the Ministry of Justice as a Specialist (mental health) Lay Tribunal Member and an Appraiser.

 Fiona enjoys voluntary positions as a Trustee of Vindolanda, Chair of Northumberland based theatre company November Club and supports Durham University Business School’s full-time MBA Programme.